India Inc bosses pitch solution to beat 2nd Covid wave: Jab for all
On Sunday, Maharashtra saw Covid cases jump to a new high of over 30,000.
By ET Online and Agencies | Updated:
BCCL
From Sajjan Jindal (L), Vijay Shekhar Sharma (C) and Anand Mahindra (R), the business leaders have just one suggestion for the government to tackle the rising number of Covid cases.
A year into the pandemic and there is no end in sight. The recent spike in Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra has shown that there is a price to pay for letting down one's guard. On Sunday, the state saw the Covid cases jump to a new high of over 30,000, with a number of deaths reported also shooting up in the 'second wave'. According to the health officials, Mumbai also recorded 3,000-plus fresh infections. For the first time, Mumbai figures have shot up over 3K to 3,779.
These rapid growth in number of cases have been a constant point of discussion for the top bosses of India Inc. From Sajjan Jindal and Anand Mahindra to Vijay Shekhar Sharma, these business leaders have just one suggestion for the government to tackle the growing number of cases: 'Vaccinating the youth'.
Tagging a special TOI column by the country's renowned heart surgeon, Devi Shetty, titled 'Don’t lock down. Vaccinate: Jabs must include those aged 20-45 years. They’re the real super-spreaders', the JSW Group Chairman and MD took to Twitter to share his views.
He said that the only way to deal with the rise in cases was 'mass vaccination'. He further urged the Government to open the vaccination for all adults and said that corporate India is eager to get its staff back and that most companies are ready to vaccinate their employees, families and communities.
I completely agree with Dr. Devi Shetty. Mass vaccination is the only way forward & @PMOIndia must open vaccination… https://t.co/ajeKNWnozq
The Paytm founder, meanwhile, shared a snapshot of a Bloomberg article on Sunday, and highlighted a line that read, "...they (vaccine passports) significantly cut down the risk of getting a mild or asymptomatic case and transmitting the virus to others".
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In his tweet, he wrote that vaccination helps break the chain and stops or slows the spread.
Vaccination also breaks the chain and stops/slows down the spread. ��Vaccine Passports Would Get the U.S. Back to… https://t.co/20AURsr4Sl
Last week, the Mahindra Group Chairman had also weighed in on the issue. Calling Maharashtra the nerve-centre of the country’s economic activity, he said that the state needs 'emergency permission to vaccinate every willing person'. "More lockdowns will be debilitating," he wrote.
Over half the new daily cases are in Maharashtra.The state is the nerve-centre of the country’s economic activity &… https://t.co/JgPDbmBdjR
Replying to a user, Mahindra also raised concerns that the country may suffer second, third and fourth waves, if the government doesn't speed up vaccination rate.
I agree. But if we don’t speed up the vaccination rate we will suffer second, third and fourth waves. https://t.co/sQMYgqEJhz
Right after Mahindra's tweet, RPG Enterprises Chairman Harsh Goenka also shared a list of dos and don't that can help tackle the Covid surge. The top of the list was "vaccination for all very soon".
The other suggestions included more vaccination centres, vaccination drives open all days, allowing corporates to vaccinate employees at their cost, strict action for flouting social distancing rule or when not wearing a mask, and a stop on political rallies and social parties.
With Covid surging, my suggestions:-Vaccination for all very soon-More medical centres vaccinating-24 ×7 vaccine… https://t.co/1zq6OkUqUb
Seeing a new wave of Covid, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson of Biocon Limited, said that India needs science, not logic, to deploy vaccines to stem the spread of the infection. She suggested that smart algorithms can help prioritise vaccination based on TPR, CFR, etc. "Sequential n stratified vaccination is slow n sub-optimal", she wrote.
Maharashtra, on Sunday, saw 30,535 new infections, up from Saturday's 27,126, and 99 deaths, taking up the state tally to 24,79,682 and toll to 53,399, respectively - both highest in the country.
The state's recovery rate came down from 89.97 per cent to 89.32 per cent, while the death rate stood at 2.15 per cent, as compared to 2.18 per cent a day earlier, while the number of active cases jumped up sharply from 191,006 to 210,120.
The War Against Coronavirus: Pichai, Jack Ma, Ambani & Other Top Bosses Show The Way
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Chinese billionaire Jack Ma (C) showed his benevolent side as he pitched in to help the world fight the novel coronavirus. The founder of e-commerce major, Alibaba, Ma became the most talked about business figure after he said that he would marshall all available resources at his disposal to take on Covid-19. From donating emergency supplies (1.8M masks, 210K test kits, 36K protective suits, plus ventilators & thermometers) to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan & Sri Lanka in Asia to donating 20,000 test kits, 100,000 masks and 1,000 medical use protective suits in each of the 54 African countries, the 55-year-old proved that he was a good Samaritan whose charity was not mapped by geographical boundaries.
And even as the business magnate didn’t have India in his list of beneficiaries, there was much talk in the country about his act of generosity. And what followed were natural questions: who among India’s rich was doing a Jack Ma?
And it’s not just one individual, but a bunch of lion-hearted boardroom tycoons who have taken the pledge to help fight the virus that has thrown life off-track, in India and across the world.
Chinese billionaire Jack Ma (C) showed his benevolent side as he pitched in to help the world fight the novel coronavirus. The founder of e-commerce major, Alibaba, Ma became the most talked about bu..
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Google chief Sundar Pichai has donated Rs 5 crore to Give India, matching Google's earlier donation to the non-profit organisation for the coronavirus pandemic.
"Thank you @sundarpichai for matching @Googleorg's Rs 5 crore grant to provide desperately needed cash assistance for vulnerable daily wage worker families...," Give India said in a tweet.
Previously, Google had announced an over USD 800 million commitment towards efforts to tackle Covid-19 pandemic that claimed thousands of lives globally. This includes a USD 200 million investment fund for NGOs and banks to help small businesses access capital.
Besides, Google has also teamed up with Apple to work on a contact tracing approach designed with strong controls and protections for user privacy.
(With Inputs from PTI)
Google chief Sundar Pichai has donated Rs 5 crore to Give India, matching Google's earlier donation to the non-profit organisation for the coronavirus pandemic."Thank you @sundarpichai for matching @..
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Hyundai Motor India on Monday said it has donated Rs 7 crore to the PM CARES Fund to fight the Covid-19 crisis.
"Our contribution to the PM CARES Fund stands testament to solidarity we hold with the people of India, amidst this crisis," Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO SS Kim said in a statement.
In challenging times such as these, the company will continue giving back to help India defeat this adversity, he added.
The South Korean automaker had earlier pledged Rs 5 crore to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Relief Fund.
It has also donated imported diagnostic kits worth Rs 4 crore which can cater to testing requirements of over 25,000 individuals.
(With inputs from PTI)
Hyundai Motor India on Monday said it has donated Rs 7 crore to the PM CARES Fund to fight the Covid-19 crisis."Our contribution to the PM CARES Fund stands testament to solidarity we hold with the p..
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Elecon Group CMD, Prayasvin B Patel has donated Rs 11 lakh to the CM Fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, relief and rehabilitation work.
Also, Elecon Group has partnered with the District Collector's Office to distribute food and grocery kits among the vulnerable people.
Over 1,000 grocery kits have been distributed under the able guidance of Prayasvin B Patel and Mrs. Taruna P Patel. The grocery bag includes 10kg wheat flour, 5kg rice, 1 kg, dal, 1 kg sugar and 1 kg salt. Lunch and Dinner were also provided to the needy people at Vasad, Chikhodra and Bevda Villages.
(With inputs from ANI)
Elecon Group CMD, Prayasvin B Patel has donated Rs 11 lakh to the CM Fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, relief and rehabilitation work.Also, Elecon Group has partnered with the District Collector's..
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Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo, on Friday, announced that it has donated close to 9 lakh masks to government health bodies, police agencies and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
"Vivo India has donated close to 900,000 masks to government health bodies, police agencies and @tweetndmc. We will continue to do whatever we can, in our capacity, to help the country overcome the COVID19 pandemic. This is for all HeroesWhoCare Folded handsFolded hands Coronarelief," Nipun Marya, Director, Brand Strategy, Vivo India said in a tweet.
Earlier, the company donated one lakh medical masks and 5,000 N-95 masks to the Maharashtra government.
(With Inputs from PTI)
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo, on Friday, announced that it has donated close to 9 lakh masks to government health bodies, police agencies and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)."Vivo India ha..
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On Sunday evening Mukesh Ambani (in pic) stepped out to the balcony of his Altamount Road residence ‘Antilia’ and showed his gratitude to the country’s caregivers as he clapped his hands and rang the bell.
Hours later on Monday, Reliance Industries Limited announced that it is enhancing production capacities to manufacture 100,000 face-masks daily and a large number of protective equipment like suits and garments, for the country's health workers who are engaged in fighting the novel coronavirus. The oil and retail major also said that it has provided an initial support of Rs 5 crore to the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
RIL's Sir H N Reliance Foundation Hospital in collaboration with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, has also set up a dedicated 100-bed centre at Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai for patients who test positive for Covid-19. The Foundation has also decided to provide free meals to people across various cities in partnership with NGOs.
Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of India's largest firm Reliance Industries, on April 20, pledged free meals, building country's first Covid-19 hospital and is supplying PPEs and masks as part of its effort to help the nation fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
Reliance Foundation's 'Mission Anna Seva' that aims to provide over 3 crore meals to marginalised communities and frontline workers facing hardships during the lockdown, is the largest free meal programme by any corporate foundation globally, its chairperson Nita Ambani said.
(With inputs from PTI)
On Sunday evening Mukesh Ambani (in pic) stepped out to the balcony of his Altamount Road residence ‘Antilia’ and showed his gratitude to the country’s caregivers as he clapped his hands and rang the..
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Home grown Dabur group, on Tuesday, pledged Rs 21 crore to support the relief efforts and help the immediate needs of people affected from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The group will also provide assistance to people engaged in frontline efforts to fight the virus and support to members of vulnerable sections of the society and migrant workers, who are the hardest hit by this pandemic.
"We have earmarked a fund of Rs 21 crore towards relief efforts... Out of this pledged amount, a sum of Rs 11 crore is being contributed to PM CARES Fund by Dabur India and other entities in the Group," said Dabur India Ltd Chairman Amit Burman said.
(With inputs from PTI)
Home grown Dabur group, on Tuesday, pledged Rs 21 crore to support the relief efforts and help the immediate needs of people affected from the Covid-19 pandemic.The group will also provide assistance..
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Indian software major Infosys, too, joined the Covid-19 fight with a Rs 100 crore donation. The Infosys Foundation has contributed half of this amount to the PM CARES Fund to expand hospital capacity for treatment and enable hospital stays for poor Covid-19 patients. The Foundation recently said it would help set up a hospital in Bengaluru exclusively to treat people infected by the virus.
Sudha Murty, who is the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation, said that “these are unprecedented times that require every section of the society to rise up to the challenge.” Infosys CEO Salil Parekh, while terming the Covid -19 pandemic as ‘one of the toughest challenges that the world has been faced with’, reiterated that it is imperative for businesses to join hands with the governments, civil society and healthcare institutions to support the communities.
Indian software major Infosys, too, joined the Covid-19 fight with a Rs 100 crore donation. The Infosys Foundation has contributed half of this amount to the PM CARES Fund to expand hospital capacity..
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On Sunday, as the country observed ‘Janata Curfew’ as a mark of appreciation for the selfless help provided by the caregivers, Anand Mahindra (in pic) shared some heartening news with his 7.5 mn followers on Twitter. The Mahindra Group chairman offered to convert Mahindra Holiday resorts as temporary care facilities. He also tweeted that the group will ‘immediately begin work on how our manufacturing facilities can make ventilators’.And that’s not all. He also pledged that the Mahindra Foundation will create a fund to assist SMEs and SMBs, ‘the hardest hit in our value chain’. The business tycoon himself pledged to contribute 100% of his salary to the fund, and keep adding to it over the course of the next few months.
On Sunday, as the country observed ‘Janata Curfew’ as a mark of appreciation for the selfless help provided by the caregivers, Anand Mahindra (in pic) shared some heartening news with his 7.5 mn fo..
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The Executive Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited showed his generous side as he pledged Rs 100 cr to fight the pandemic. The 66-year-old Anil Agarwal (in pic), who tweeted a picture of his participation in the ‘Janata Curfew’, wrote on the micro-blogging platform that was ‘committing 100 cr towards fighting the Pandemic’. Expressing concern for the daily wage earners, he wrote that ‘we will do our bit to help’.
The Executive Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited showed his generous side as he pledged Rs 100 cr to fight the pandemic. The 66-year-old Anil Agarwal (in pic), who tweeted a picture of his partici..
